The MARTA Archaeological Collection: An Example Of An Innovative Cross-Disciplinary Project

Summary

Large historical collections of cultural data are difficult to maintain and utilize due to sustainable accessibility, funding, curation, and interest. At Georgia State University we have an archaeological collection procured in the late 1970s from the construction of the MARTA rail line. This paper discusses our efforts to make this collection more than a resource for archaeological research. Collaborative interdepartmental projects have given the collection new life by engaging students and faculty through exploring the data in ways outside of a spreadsheet. Linking these data to detailed historical maps has created a 3D virtual environment prototype of 1920s Atlanta that unites the student and faculty projects from different departments within a single platform that draws from the archaeological collection. This synergy helps further inform and refine the individual projects and provides an innovative example of how legacy data can provide impetus to break down traditional disciplinary boundaries.